Demi Lovato, who has battled body issues during her career, says our diet obsessed culture is “frustrating and sad.” It’s “constantly telling us we’re not thin enough,” she says in a new interview.

Lovato, 25, became an advocate for “body positivity” after a devastating breakdown in November 2010 led to a stint in rehab.

She lost it while on tour with the Jonas Brothers Band in South America. She spent almost four months in rehab and emerged with a clearer understanding about the issues that had been troubling her.

She had self-esteem and anger management issues and an obsessive pre-occupation with her body and learned she was bi-polar.

She decided to be totally open about her problems to help other girls facing the same issues. She says our diet culture is “constantly telling us we’re not thin enough.”

“It’s so frustrating and sad how strong the #dietculture in our society is. It’s constantly telling us we’re not thin enough no matter what. You are beautiful no matter what anyone says,” she wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Demi previously revealed she won’t be “food shaming” herself any more and has given up dieting herself.

She explained:

“Feeling gross today at a photo shoot but I’m choosing to accept what I see because I love myself for who I am and your love and support gets me through moments like this. if you’re struggling as well, don’t forget.. if I can do it, you can too! … No longer depriving myself of treats (in moderation) and I’m not gonna lie, I put on a couple lbs since I’ve given up dieting BUT I’ve given up the chronic stress of what I eat because I don’t want to set that example for my fans. No more food shaming myself!!”

The former Disney teen star also discovered yet another side of herself. She said in a recent interview she’s now gender “fluid” and open to a sexual relationship with another woman.

And the 25-year-old singer wants her swimsuit pictures to inspire her fans.

“I’ve been working on myself for the past year, more so than I’ve ever worked on myself. I’ve surrendered to the process of just learning to love yourself and I think it shows through my pictures. I post more bathing suit pictures online. I want to show my fans that it’s possible that they can get to that self love too. I’ve taken away the power from the negative comments and the haters by not listening to them. If I do see [negativity], I just feel sorry for them because who leaves a negative comment on somebody’s profile on the internet? You have to be kind of sad to do that so I’ve taken away the power and it feels great. I posted [the picture] because I look so happy.”

Check out her photos, let us know your thoughts and be sure to follow Celebrity Health & Fitness on Twitter for the latest diet news.

About The Author

Celebrity Health & Fitness

Keith Girard is Editor and Publisher of Celebrity Health & Fitness, a New York City lifestyle Web magazine devoted to health, fitness, diet, beauty and relationships. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine and a reporter for the Washington Post among other media positions.